Netalertx
CVE-2024-46506
CRITICAL
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A07:2025 - Authentication Failures
ASVS 5.0
V6 - Authentication Authentication required for critical functions
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Initial Access The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS 10.0, EPSS 91.5%, PoC available, exploited in the wild (May 2025). NetAlertX is deployed on home and small business networks for device monitoring. The tool typically runs with elevated privileges for network scanning, making command injection especially dangerous. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | An attacker discovers a NetAlertX instance exposed on a local network or through port forwarding. They send a POST to the savesettings endpoint injecting a reverse shell into a scan parameter. On the next scheduled network scan, the payload executes as root, giving the attacker full control of the monitoring server and visibility into the entire network. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
NetAlertX (formerly PiAlert) versions 23.01.14 through 24.x before 24.10.12 allow unauthenticated command injection through the settings update API. The savesettings function lacks authentication, enabling attackers to modify arbitrary configuration values and inject OS commands that execute on the host system.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Unauthenticated command injection in NetAlertX network monitoring tool via unprotected settings API enables full system compromise.
RemediationAI
Update to NetAlertX 24.10.12 or later. Never expose NetAlertX to the internet. Add authentication to the web interface using a reverse proxy. Run NetAlertX as a non-root user with minimal required capabilities.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
The settings.php endpoint exposes a savesettings function without authentication checks. Certain configuration values are later passed to system shell commands during NetAlertX's scan operations. By injecting shell metacharacters into these configuration values, an attacker achieves arbitrary command execution with the privileges of the NetAlertX process (often root on network monitoring appliances).
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
NetAlertX 23.01.14 through 24.x before 24.10.12 allows unauthenticated command injection via settings update because function=savesettings lacks an authentication requirement, as exploited in the wild in May 2025. This is related to settings.php and util.php.
Executive ViewAI
Organizations using NetAlertX 23.01.14 through 24.x before 24.10.12 face critical risk from CVE-2024-46506, a missing authentication vulnerability rated CVSS 10.0. Attackers could bypass security controls to gain unauthorized access to protected resources and sensitive data. With an EPSS score of 91%, this vulnerability faces very high likelihood of exploitation. Organizations should apply vendor updates immediately when available and implement compensating controls in the interim.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Implement network-level access controls; (2) Enable MFA where possible; (3) Monitor authentication logs for anomalous access.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.
Authentication bypass attacks exploit flaws in the verification mechanisms that control access to systems and applications.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
NetAlertX 24.7.18 before 24.10.12 allows unauthenticated file reading because an HTTP client can ignore a redirect, and
NetAlertX is a network, presence scanner, and alert framework. Prior to version 25.6.7, a vulnerability in the authentic
NetAlertX is a network, presence scanner and alert framework. Rated critical severity (CVSS 10.0), this vulnerability is
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB